Resources for Families
Below are the weekly Shine at Home conversation starters and activities for enhancing faith formation at home. These faith-building ideas for families are ready to be shared via email, on a social media platform such as Facebook, or in a weekly bulletin or newsletter. Each week’s suggestions coordinate with the Shine curriculum that children and junior youth use during Christian education time.
Add this explanation the first week you send out or post the announcements:
Today we are beginning a weekly announcement for families of children and junior youth. Each Sunday you will find faith nurture ideas that coordinate with the weekly session plans from the Shine curriculum your child’s group uses. The Bible story can be read from The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible, which is available for purchase from www.ShineCurriculum.com/Shop. Or simply read it from a translation of your choice. Each week includes the prayer practice that your child(ren) was introduced to during Sunday school. Continue that practice each day.
Announcements for Summer 2026 (Path to Peace Inside)
These faith-building ideas for families are ready to be shared via email, on a social media platform such as Facebook, or in a weekly bulletin or newsletter. Each week’s suggestions coordinate with the Shine curriculum that children and junior youth use during Christian education time. This summer’s announcements coordinate with the Path to Peace Inside Curriculum.
Announcements run from Sunday, May 31, through August 23. Modify the dates as needed to match your church’s schedule. Click for the Word document: Path to Peace Inside Shine at Home Announcements: Path to Peace Inside Shine at Home Announcements. Because this curriculum has 15 sessions, there are two undated announcements in the document to switch with dated ones, depending on the sessions chosen for the summer.
Session 1
May 31, 2026
Song of Wonder
Read pages 88–89 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Psalm 139. The Psalmist wrote, “I praise you, for I am made in a wonderful way.” Name something wonderful that you can do.
Pray As you touch each finger of one hand, thank God for different body parts and something that body part can do. For example, “Thank you for my fingers that can draw.”
Create God made each person in a unique way. Draw an outline of a person on a piece of paper. Using art supplies, stickers, and pictures cut out of magazines, each person can decorate their person in a unique way.
Session 2
June 7, 2026
Written on Your Heart
Read pages 118–119 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Jeremiah 29:11–14; 31:1–14, 31–34. If you were going through a hard time, which part of this prophecy would be most comforting to you?
Pray Take turns sharing happy and sad parts of your day. After each person shares, say, “God will turn your sadness into joy.” Pray for each person in your family.
Move Play music and dance together as the people did in the Bible story! Give each family member an opportunity to choose a song.
Session 3
June 14, 2026
Born in Bethlehem
Read pages 170–173 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Luke 2:1–20. The angel said, “I am bringing good news which will fill your hearts with joy.” Name things that fill your heart with joy.
Pray a prayer of blessing. Pass a candle around the circle with each family member saying “the love of Christ be with you” to the next person.
Go on a scavenger hunt! Take turns hiding a baby doll or a baby Jesus from a nativity set. The person who finds the baby gets to hide it for the next round.
Session 4
June 21, 2026
Let the Children Come
Read pages 252–253 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Mark 10:13–16. Have the adults and older children tell stories about what they remember from when they were young children.
Pray a blessing for one another. When we bless someone, we ask God to provide good things for that person, such as protection, healing, or comfort. Offer a blessing to each other such as this one: May God bless you with joy and love.
Sing “Jesus Loves Me” putting the names of your family members in place of the word “me.”
Session 5
June 28, 2026
One Body, Many Gifts
Read pages 316–317 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Romans 12:1–8. Talk about the gifts, skills, and talents each person has.
Pray with your body! Sit or stand in place, feet slightly apart, and take a few deep breaths. Put your hands on your stomach and feel it rise and fall with a deep breath. Then praise God with your whole body (stomp feet, clap hands, reach arms up, jump)!
Talk about jobs that need to get done in your home. Do any of you have special tasks to help the family? Take a minute to say thanks for the ways each person helps.
Session 6
July 5, 2026
Fly like an Eagle
Read page 114 in The Peace Table or Isaiah 40:12–31. How can we remember that God is always with us?
Pray prayers of praise for God’s strength shown in creation. Take turns saying, “We see your strength in _________ (mountains, crashing waves).”
Learn about eagles. Find books or videos online to discover more about these amazing birds!
Draw a resurrection picture. Include symbols of new life, such as butterflies, baby birds, flowers, and budding trees.
Session 7
July 12, 2026
Song of Shelter
Read page 148 in The Peace Table or Psalm 91. Tell about a time when you were scared. Talk about things that help you feel safe.
Imagine being sheltered by a mother bird during a storm. As one person wraps a large blanket around their shoulders, everyone else crawls underneath like baby birds beneath the wings of a mother bird. Talk about what it feels like to be warm, dry, and safe.
Pray using a small blanket or towel. Say your prayers out loud or write them on pieces of paper and lay them on the blanket. After you pray, fold up the blanket or towel to show that you are giving these prayers to God.
Session 8
July 19, 2026
Birds and Flowers
Read page 236 in The Peace Table or Luke 12:22–34. Tell about a time when God took care of you and your family.
Pray a listening prayer. Think about something that worries you. Play a recording of bird sounds on YouTube as you pray. Listen for what God might say to you about your worry.
Practice letting go of your worries. Name one thing you feel worried or concerned about and imagine placing that concern in your hands. Lift cupped hands high and then separate your hands as a sign of giving your worries to God.
Session 9
July 26, 2026
Peace I Leave with You
Read page 273 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or John 13:33–15:19. What can help you stay connected to Jesus? How can you grow kindness, joy, and love?
Pray for people who feel far away from God. Maybe you are one of those people. We can’t see God, so sometimes it’s hard to feel connected. Don’t worry! God is closer than you think. Look for examples of love. Wherever you notice love, God is there!
Share a snack of grapes, raisins, grape juice, or grape jam on bread. Make “grape kabobs” by alternating red and green grapes on skewers.
Session 10
August 2, 2026
God Is Near
Read page 322 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Philippians 4:1–14. Talk about friends that you have and one thing that makes them fun to be with.
Pray with your hands. Make tight fists as you name things that worry or upset you right now. Slowly loosen your fists and place your hands palms up and relaxed as you ask for God’s peace to fill you.
Write “Rejoice in the Lord always” at the top of a blank piece of paper. Throughout the week, add things that you are rejoicing about to the list. Share your list with your family and ask them to add to it.
Session 11
August 9, 2026
Song of a Shepherd
Read pages 86–87 in The Peace Table or Psalm 23. Talk about times you have felt God’s goodness and love.
Pray in color. Choose one line from the psalm and draw a picture of it as you pray those words silently.
Watch a YouTube video to learn more about sheep. Search for songs based on Psalm 23 as well.
Session 12
August 16, 2026
Lift the Valleys
Read pages 112–113 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or Isaiah 40:1–11. Share about things and people that bring you comfort when you are sad or not feeling well.
Pray a prayer of praise to God for the hope that Jesus brings to the world. Take turns sharing your hopes for your family, your community, and the world.
Retell the Bible story using sand or soil. Build up mountains and valleys, then smooth them over with your hand to create a path for God!
Session 13
August 23, 2026
The Good Shepherd
Read pages 228–229 in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible or John 10:1–18. Name people who care for you in different ways and talk about ways you care for others.
Pray Spread out a green cloth and place one cotton ball “sheep” on the cloth to represent each person in your family. Say a prayer thanking God for each family member and asking for God’s care.
Create Draw a picture of a field of green grass with a river running through it. Add “sheep” to the picture using cotton balls and glue. Draw Jesus the Good Shepherd beside the sheep.
